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13th Amendment
This amendment was passed to formally abolish slavery in the United States. Once enough states ratified the amendment on December 6, 1865 it became completely illegal to own and trade slaves. The 13th Amendment improved lives of former slaves, especially in the North. -
14th Amendment
This amendment granted citizenship to people in the United States. It meant that anyone born in America was a US citzen. It also granted citizenship to the newly freed slaves. The 14th Amendment also forbid states to deny any person "life, liberty and property, without due process of law." The amendment also forbid states to deny equal protection of laws to anyone in their jurisdiction. The 14th Amendment widely expanded the protection of civil rights to all Americans. -
15th Amendment
The 15th Amendment granted African American citizens of the United States the right to vote. However, this amendment alone was not enough to provide African American males and poor white males with the full right to vote due to poll taxes, literacy tests, and other road blocks put up to deny them this right to vote. -
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Jim Crow South
During this time in the South African Americans were subjected to segregation in every aspect of every day life. They were forced to use different restrooms and schools, and often not even allowed to use the same doors as white individuals. These laws were a way to demean the African American citizens and make them feel as if the sting of slavery was still there. -
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Poll Taxes
Poll taxes were established along with literacy tests during the Jim Crow South to make voting increasingly difficult for African-American males in the United States. Poll Taxes lasted until the 24th Amendment was established in 1964. -
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Literacy Tests
Literacy tests, like poll taxes, were created to discriminate against African-American males that wanted to vote. Literacy tests were specifically outlawed in the Voting Rights Act of 1965. These tests along with poll taxes are now illegal to administer. -
Plessy v. Ferguson
This court case was established after a Creole man in Louisiana was arrested for sitting in the "White" car of a train. This case determined that seperate institutions for balcks and whites are constitutional as long as they are "legal". -
19th Amendment
The 19th Amendment was established in 1920. This amendment was established to give women in America the right to vote. The 19th Amendment was a huge milestone for women's suffrage. -
Korematsu v. United States
Korematsu was a Japanese citizen of the United States that evaded internment during WWII. His case made it to the Supreme Court where it was determined that the executive order that lead to the internment of Japanese citizens was constitutional. -
Sweatt v. Painter
Sweatt was an African-American male who wanted to attend the law school at the University of Texas, but was denied permission due to his color and was offered entry into the school the University had for "colors". This case made it to the Supreme Court and was able to successfully challenge the "seperate but equal" doctrine.The Court decided unanimously in favor of Sweatt and stated that the school could not desegregate their students by instantly creating a black-only law school -
Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka
Thurgood Marshall represented this case. He argued that the schools that were supposed to seperate but equal were in fact not equal at all and did not provide an equal and adequate education. The Supreme Court decided uninanimously that providing "seperate but equal" facilities was unconstitutional. -
Montgomery Bus Boycott
The Montgomery Bus Boycott was supposed to be for a one day event on December 5, 1955. However, black ministers and leaders of the boycott deciding to make the event a long running campaign. The boycott ended up lasting for 13 months. -
Ruby Bridges
Ruby Brigdes was the first African-American child to integrate a Southern elementary school. She was six years old and had to be escorted by U.S. marshals to and from the school. Ruby had to attend school through the threats and protesting of people who did not want the schools to be integrated. -
Affirmative Action
"Affirmative action" was first used in an executive order signed by President John F. Kennedy on March 6, 1961 that promoted it as a way to not discriminate. President Lyndon B. Johnson also signed an executive order in 1965 that stated that employers must not discriminate based on religion, race, and national origin. Sex was added to the non-discrimination list in 1967. -
Loving v. Virginia
This case was brought to the Supreme Court by Mildred and Richard Loving, an interracial married couple. The couple was sentenced to a year in prison for getting married in Virginia. The Lovings broke the law in Virginia that stated that "white" people and "colored" people are not permitted to get married. The Supreme Court decided that laws prohibiting the marraige of interracial couples were invalidated. -
24th Amendment
This amendment prohibits any type of poll taxes for federal officials. The 24th Amendment improved voting rights for African American males and poor whites. -
Civil Rights Act of 1964
This Act was a key piece of the civil rights fight. The Civil Rights Act of 1964 outlawed discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. The Act helped to end unequal voter registration requirements and racial segregation in schools as well as the work place and public accommodations, like restrooms and water fountains. -
Voting Rights Act of 1965
According to the U.S. Department of Justice, the Voting Rights Act of 1965 is considered to be one of the most effective pieces of legislature to be passed. The Act is designed to prohibit racial discrimination in voting. The Voting Rights Act of 1965 also specifically outlaws literacy tests and similar devices from being used during voting. -
Robert Kennedy's Speech on the Death of MLK
Robert Kennedy gave this famous speech in Indianapolis, Indiana at a rally on 17th and Broadway. This area was known as Indianapolis's ghetto. Despite the fear of riots and the possible danger he could be in, Kennedy gave the speech and informed many of the citizens of King's death. He did not stay on track with the campaign speech he had planned. He gave a very passionate speech about MLK and the need for peace. That is why his speech is one of the most famous public addresses of this era. -
Reed v. Reed
Reed v. Reed was a case where a woman who took her ex-husband to court over a conflict on which party gets the home of their deceased son. The Supreme Court ruled in favor of Sally Reed and created the decision that "administrators of estates cannot be named in a way that discriminates between sexes". -
Equal Rights Amendment
This amendment provides equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the government or any state on account of sex. This amendment had a deadline of June 30, 1982 to be ratified, however the number of states that ratified it were not enough and the amendment was never added to the constitution. -
Bowers v. Hardwick
This case involved the matter of sodomy laws and discrimination against homosexuals. It was decided by the Supreme Court to uphold the law that sex between homosexuals was illegal. However, this law was overturned in 2003. -
Lawrence v. Texas
This case overturned the ruling in the Supreme Court case of Bowers v. Hardwick that sex between homosexuals was illegal. The Court declared that sex between two consenting adults was legal no matter the gender. The Supreme Court also decided that it was illegal to create laws against homosexual activity. -
Fisher v. Texas
Fisher, a white female, applied to the University of Texas law school but was not accepted because the school chose minority students over her apllication. Fisher attended law school at LSU and earned her law degree. With that degree Fisher sued the University of Texas. The decision determined by the Supreme Court was unlcear, and the case was remanded for further consideration. -
Baskin v. Bogan
This case was fought on behalf of three women who were fighting for the right to marry their partners. The jugde decided on behalf of the women and struck down the Indiana Marraige Ban. The day of the ruling many same-sex couples in Indiana were granted marraige certificates, however the decision was brought to a halt on June 27th. -
Americans with Disabilities Act
This Act prohibits discriminating against people with disabilities. This means there can be no discrimination in the workplace, transportation, communications, and many other public services. -
Regents of the University of California v. Bakke
Bakke, a white student, applied to the University of California's medical school but was denied acceptance. The school needed to meet a "race quota" so they chose a less qualified minority student in place of Bakke. The Supreme Court saw this case as a matter of affirmative action, and said that schools were allowed to include race as a factor as long as they do not do it obviously and outright.
